The General Assembly,
Recalling its resolution 50/28 A of 6 December 1995 and all its previous
resolutions on the question, including resolution 194 (III) of 11 December
1948,
Taking note of the report of the Commissioner-General of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East for
the period from 1 July 1995 to 30 June 1996,
Welcoming the signature in Washington on 13 September 1993 by the
Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization,
the representative of the people of Palestine, of the Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements and the subsequent
implementation agreements, and also the signature of the Interim Agreement on
the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in Washington on 28 September 1995,
Encouraging the Multilateral Working Group on Refugees of the Middle
East peace process to continue its important work,
Welcoming the completion of the transfer of the headquarters of the
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
to its area of operations,
1. Notes with regret that repatriation or compensation of the
refugees, as provided for in paragraph 11 of its resolution 194 (III), has not
yet been effected and that, therefore, the situation of the refugees continues
to be a matter of concern;
2. Expresses its thanks to the Commissioner-General and to all the
staff of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in
the Near East, recognizing that the Agency is doing all it can within the
limits of available resources, and also expresses its thanks to the
specialized agencies and to private organizations for their valuable work in
assisting refugees;
3. Notes with regret that the United Nations Conciliation Commission
for Palestine has been unable to find a means of achieving progress in the
implementation of paragraph 11 of General Assembly resolution 194 (III), and
requests the Commission to exert continued efforts towards the implementation
of that paragraph and to report to the Assembly as appropriate, but no later
than 1 September 1997;
4. Notes the significant success of the Peace Implementation
Programme of the Agency since the signing of the Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self- Government Arrangements, and stresses the importance that
contributions to this Programme are not at the expense of the General Fund;
5. Welcomes strengthened cooperation between the Agency and the World
Bank and other specialized agencies, and calls upon the Agency to make a
decisive contribution towards giving a fresh impetus to the economic and
social stability of the occupied territories;
6. Urges all Member States to extend and expedite aid and assistance
with a view to the economic and social development of the Palestinian people
and the occupied territories;
7. Reiterates its concern regarding the continuing seriousness of the
financial position of the Agency, as outlined in the report of the
Commissioner- General;
8. Commends the efforts of the Commissioner-General to move towards
budgetary transparency and internal efficiency, and hopes that such moves will
continue;
9. Notes with profound concern that the structural deficit problem
confronting the Agency portends an almost certain decline in the living
conditions of the Palestine refugees and that it, therefore, has possible
consequences for the peace process;
10. Calls upon all Governments, as a matter of urgency, to make the
most generous efforts possible to meet the anticipated needs of the Agency,
including the costs of moving the headquarters to Gaza, urges non-contributing
Governments to contribute regularly, and encourages contributing Governments
to consider increasing their regular contributions.